Joshua 18:4-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 18:2-10

Here, I. Joshua reproves those tribes which were yet unsettled that they did not bestir themselves to gain a settlement in the land which God had given them. Seven tribes were yet unprovided for, though sure of an inheritance, yet uncertain where it should be, and it seems in no great care about it, Josh. 18:2. And with them Joshua reasons (Josh. 18:3): How long are you slack? 1. They were too well pleased with their present condition, liked well enough to live in a body together, the more the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:4

Give out from among you three men for each tribe ,.... That is, for each of the seven tribes, in all twenty one; though some think they were to be taken out of all the nine tribes and a half, and were thirty six; and so Josephus F1 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 21. seems to understand it; but then he makes but one out of each tribe to be sent, and but ten in all, which is a great oversight in that historian: and I will send them ; Joshua would not take upon him to name the persons,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:5

And they shall divide it into seven parts ,.... According to the number of the seven tribes not yet settled; and this they were to describe and divide was all the land subdued, or not subdued, only the following excepted: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south ; on the south of the land of Canaan, where their lot fell, so that needed not to be measured and described; and this tribe was to retain what they were possessed of, unless it should appear they had too much, and others... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:6

Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts ,.... Or ye shall describe the land, even the seven parts of it when divided; it seems as if they were first to describe in general all the land not disposed of, and then divide it into seven parts, and make a particular description of each part, or form a plan, or draw a map of every part: and bring the description hither to me ; not by word of mouth, but as written in a book, or marked out in a map, and laid before him, see ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 18:4

Three men for each tribe - Probably meaning only three from each of the seven tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. It is likely that these twenty-one men were accompanied by a military guard, for without this they might have been easily cut off by straggling parties of the Canaanites. They shall - describe it - It is likely they were persons well acquainted with geography and mensuration, without which it would have been impossible for them to have divided the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 18:5

Judah shall abide - on the south , and the house of Joseph - on the north - Joshua does not mean that the tribe of Judah occupied the south, and the tribe of Ephraim and Manasseh the north of the promised land; this was not the fact: but being now at Shiloh, a considerable way in the territory of Ephraim, and not far from that of Judah, he speaks of them in relation to the place in which he then was. Calmet considers him as thus addressing the deputies: "Go and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 18:4

Verse 4 4.Give out from among you three men, etc Caleb and Joshua had already surveyed those regions, and the people had learned much by inquiry: Joshua, however, wishes the land to be divided as if according to actual survey (162) and orders three surveyors to be appointed for each of the seven tribes, in order that by the mouth of two or three persons every dispute may be settled. But nothing seems more incongruous than to send twenty-one men, who were not only to pass directly through a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 18:1-28

Progress in the great work. The tribes gathered together at Shiloh, set up the common tabernacle for worship, and then proceeded, at Joshua's instance, to complete the division of the land. Several detached considerations may be derived from this chapter. I. THE DUTY OF A PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF GOD . The duty of public worship has been universally recognised in all religions, and is founded in a natural tendency of mankind. Philosophical sects, in which religious... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 18:4

Give out from among you. Calvin enlarges much upon the boldness of these twenty-one men in venturing upon the task of the survey, rightly supposing that the difficulty of the task was enhanced by the number who undertook it (see note on Joshua 14:12 ). And here it is impossible to come to any other conclusion than that the twenty-one commissioners went together, for the object of their selection was to obviate complaints of a kind which, as we have already seen, the Israelites were not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 18:6

Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts. Literally, ye shall write the land, seven parts. Similarly in Joshua 18:8 . That is to say, a written report was to be brought up in seven parts, a fair and equal division of the land having previously been agreed upon among the commissioners. This report having been accepted, division was afterwards made ( Joshua 18:10 ) by lot. Bishop Horsley and Houbigant here, as elsewhere, would rearrange the chapter, supposing it to have been... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 18:2-10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 18:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 18:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 18:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 18:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 18:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 18:6

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